Minn. House Finally Passes Day Care Union Bill

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota House has passed a bill that allows a union drive among home day care providers and personal care attendants after about 10 hours of debate strung out over more than two days.

The final vote was 68-66. A handful of Democrats voted no along with all the House Republicans, who waged an intense floor fight against the day care unionization drive. The issue drew demonstrators to the Capitol from both sides of the issue.

The Senate already passed the bill, so it's on its way to Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton who is likely to sign.

It's part of an effort by two service worker unions to organize personal care workers. The bill sets up possible unionization votes among child-care providers who get state subsidies, and separately among care attendants to the elderly and disabled.

Republicans call the bill a power grab by unions.

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